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Deux Épigrammes de Clément Marot

Introduction

The two Marot settings of 1896 and 1899 testify to Ravel's love of the eighteenth century and its embrace of civilized order. In fact, though, in D’Anne jouant de l’espinette he subverts the order of the eight iambic pentameters with phrasing in 5/4 time, and in the later companion piece goes further, including some in 7/4. In the joint edition, he transposed the order of the two songs so that the first begins and ends in G sharp minor, while the second begins in C sharp minor but modulates back to G sharp minor, producing a more satisfactory tonal shape.

Anne in play threw snow at me, Which I certainly thought cold: But what I felt from it was fire, For suddenly I was all aflame. Since fire dwells secretly In the snow, where shall I find a place Where I’ll not burn? Anne, your favour alone Can quench the flame I so keenly feel, Not water nor snow nor ice, But by feeling a fire which matches mine.

When I see my neat and dark-haired lady, Young, comely, of divine lineage, And when her voice, her fingers, and the spinet Make a sweet melodious sound, My ears and eyes know greater pleasure Than the saints in their immortal glory: And I become as glorious as they, The moment I feel she loves me a little.